Methods and systems for vehicle radar coordination and interference reduction

Abstract

A method is provided that includes a vehicle receiving data from an external computing device indicative of at least one other vehicle in an environment of the vehicle. The vehicle may include a sensor configured to detect the environment of the vehicle. The at least one other vehicle may include at least one sensor. The method also includes determining a likelihood of interference between the at least one sensor of the at least one other vehicle the sensor of the vehicle. The method also includes initiating an adjustment of the sensor to reduce the likelihood of interference between the sensor of the vehicle and the at least one sensor of the at least one other vehicle responsive to the determination.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method comprising:
 receiving, at a computing device coupled to a vehicle, light signals from an environment of the vehicle, wherein the vehicle includes a lidar system configured to obtain the light signals from the environment; 
 based on one or more parameters detected when processing the light signals, determining that the light signals originated from a potentially interfering light source positioned away from the vehicle and a likelihood of interference between the lidar system and the potentially interfering light source; 
 estimating, based on an angle of arrival of the light signals, a position of the potentially interfering light source relative to the vehicle; and 
 based on determining that the likelihood of interference exceeds a threshold likelihood, adjusting, by the computing device, operation of the lidar system to reduce interference with the potentially interfering light source, wherein adjusting operation of the lidar system comprises modifying a power level of the lidar system based on a direction of travel of the vehicle relative to the estimated position of the potentially interfering light source. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein adjusting operation of the lidar system comprises:
 causing the lidar system to transition from emitting a first sequence of light pulses to emitting a second sequence of light pulses. 
 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 detecting a change in an orientation of the vehicle; and 
 wherein adjusting operation of the lidar system comprises: 
 adjusting operation of the lidar system responsive to detecting the change in the orientation of the vehicle. 
 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , wherein adjusting operation of the lidar system comprises:
 adjusting a modulation pattern used by the lidar system. 
 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , wherein adjusting operation of the lidar system comprises:
 causing the lidar system to subsequently operate according to a time offset. 
 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , wherein adjusting operation of the lidar system comprises:
 causing the lidar system to subsequently operate according to a frequency offset. 
 
     
     
       7. A vehicle comprising:
 a lidar system; and 
 a computing device in communication with the lidar system, wherein the computing device is configured to:
 receive, from the lidar system, light signals from an environment of the vehicle; 
 based on one or more parameters detected when processing the light signals, determine that the light signals originated from a potentially interfering light source positioned away from the vehicle and a likelihood of interference between the lidar system and the potentially interfering light source; 
 estimate, based on an angle of arrival of the light signals, a position of the potentially interfering light source relative to the vehicle; and 
 based on determining that the likelihood of interference exceeds a threshold likelihood, adjust operation of the lidar system to reduce interference with the potentially interfering light source, wherein adjusting operation of the lidar system comprises modifying a power level of the lidar system based on a direction of travel of the vehicle relative to the estimated position of the potentially interfering light source. 
 
 
     
     
       8. The vehicle of  claim 7 , wherein the computing device is further configured to:
 cause the lidar system to transition from emitting a first sequence of light pulses to emitting a second sequence of light pulses. 
 
     
     
       9. The vehicle of  claim 7 , wherein the computing device is further configured to:
 detect a change in an orientation of the vehicle; and 
 adjust operation of the lidar system responsive to detecting the change in the orientation of the vehicle. 
 
     
     
       10. The vehicle of  claim 7 , wherein the computing device is further configured to:
 receive, from the lidar system, light signals from an environment of the vehicle; and 
 based on one or more parameters of the light signals received from the environment, determine that the light signals originated from a source located external to the lidar system. 
 
     
     
       11. The vehicle of  claim 7 , wherein the computing device is further configured to:
 adjust a modulation pattern used by the lidar system. 
 
     
     
       12. The vehicle of  claim 7 , wherein the computing device is further configured to:
 cause the lidar system to subsequently operate according to a time offset. 
 
     
     
       13. The vehicle of  claim 7 , wherein the computing device is further configured to:
 cause the lidar system to subsequently operate according to a frequency offset. 
 
     
     
       14. A non-transitory computer readable medium configured to store instructions, that when executed by a computing device, cause the computing device to perform operations comprising:
 receiving light signals from an environment of a vehicle, wherein the computing device is coupled to the vehicle, and wherein the vehicle includes a lidar system configured to obtain the light signals from the environment; 
 based on one or more parameters detected when processing the light signals, determining that the light signals originated from a potentially interfering light source positioned away from the vehicle and a likelihood of interference between the lidar system and the potentially interfering light source; 
 estimating, based on an angle of arrival of the light signals, a position of the potentially interfering light source relative to the vehicle; and 
 based on determining that the likelihood of interference exceeds a threshold likelihood, adjusting, by the computing device, operation of the lidar system to reduce interference with the potentially interfering light source, wherein adjusting operation of the lidar system comprises modifying a power level of the lidar system based on a direction of travel of the vehicle relative to the estimated position of the potentially interfering light source. 
 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 1 , wherein adjusting operation of the lidar system to reduce interference with the potentially interfering light source comprises:
 switching the lidar system from a coherent detection mode to an incoherent detection mode. 
 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 communicating one or more adjustments to the operation of the lidar system to a remote computing device. 
 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 based on estimating the position of the potentially interfering light source relative to the vehicle, determining that the position of the potentially interfering light source is within a threshold distance from the vehicle; and 
 wherein adjusting operation of the lidar system to reduce interference with the potentially interfering light source comprises: 
 adjusting operation of the lidar system responsive to determining that the position of the potentially interfering light source is within the threshold distance from the vehicle. 
 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 determining that the likelihood of interference is below the threshold likelihood; and 
 based on determining that the likelihood of interference is below the threshold likelihood, operating the lidar system without applying one or more adjustments. 
 
     
     
       19. The vehicle of  claim 7 , wherein the computing device is further configured to:
 determine that the likelihood of interference is below the threshold likelihood; and 
 based on determining that the likelihood of interference is below the threshold likelihood, operate the lidar system without applying one or more adjustments. 
 
     
     
       20. The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 determining that the likelihood of interference is below the threshold likelihood; and 
 based on determining that the likelihood of interference is below the threshold likelihood, operating the lidar system without applying one or more adjustments.